Old habits die hard, especially for the Indiana Fever. A Caitlin Clark-less Fever side showed positive signs but then crumbled against the New York Liberty in their last game. They led till the early third quarter against the defending champions largely by scrapping steals, forcing turnovers. As they have multiple times this season, they just turned off, and the Liberty capitalised by going on a 29-8 run over nine minutes of game time. The Fever have repeatedly made the same mistake of giving top teams an inch, and as a result, they have pressed for the win.
Without Caitlin Clark, they were lacking creativity, and they lost the assist battle 18-24 against the fast-paced Liberty. The New York Liberty seems like a version of what Indiana wants to be, but they are just not there yet. Kelsey Mitchell, Aliyah Boston, and Sophie Cunningham were in top form, but the Liberty firepower proved just too much with Jonquel Jones returning with a bang. This form could turn into a slippery slope, as their schedule doesn’t get any easier going forward.
The Fever face the slightly bruised but still competitive Las Vegas Aces, who are on a three-match winning run with none other than A’ja Wilson leading them. Becky Hammon has continuously taken issue with the defensive effort, and the team has relied very heavily on A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young. They locked the Dream in that last game while Dana Evans came up with important 14 points, providing them with an outlet besides Wilson and Young. Those two still had important contributions, but the focus will be on spreading out her workload going forward. Before tonight’s marquee matchup between the Indiana Fever and New York Liberty, let’s examine the latest on player injuries, expected lineups, and how both teams are shaping up for this crucial contest.
Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces: Injury Report
Indiana Fever:
Caitlin Clark’s presence in the injury report remains consistent as she is expected to miss another game because of her resurfaced groin injury. “She’s going to see some doctors and get some more tests around early in the week,” White said before their game against the Liberty, and she met with some doctors in New York. There is no further update on the progress of her injury. She recently received an encouraging message from fellow peer Sabrina Ionescu, and the fans will hope to have her back on the court as soon as possible.
Las Vegas Aces:
Jackie Young was still in the Aces starting lineup vs. the Atlanta Dream despite being questionable on the previous injury report with a hip injury. Despite that, she played 24 minutes in the previous game and will likely continue. There are no other additions for the Aces in the Injury report for the Aces.
Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces: Predicted Lineups
Indiana Fever:
Natasha Howard
Aliyah Boston
Kelsey Mitchell
Sophie Cunningham
Aari McDonald
Las Vegas Aces:
NaLyssa Smith
A’ja Wilson
Chelsea Gray
Jewell Loyd
Jackie Young
Indiana Fever vs Las Vegas Aces: Match Preview And Prediction
The Las Vegas Aces are back in business, firing on all cylinders and bulldozing their way above .500 as they ride a three-game winning streak, aiming to leave mediocrity behind. Driving this resurgence is none other than A’ja Wilson, who is redefining dominance in 2025. Wilson has been an unstoppable force, ranking second in the WNBA in scoring at 22.4 points per game, second in rebounding at 9.3, and leading the league in blocks with 2.4 per contest.
Over the last three victories, she has been the engine, the clutch performer, and the insurance policy with three straight double-doubles, averaging an eye-popping 31.7 points and 12.7 rebounds per night during that hot streak. With Wilson on a tear, there is no doubt the Aces are not just keeping pace in the playoff race, they are throwing down the gauntlet, and their challenger status is louder than ever.
Jun 20, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Tiffany Mitchell (3) dribbles the ball against Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images
But their problem this season has always been over-reliance on Wilson and Chelsea Gray. Beyond these two, no player averages beyond 12 points a game this season, and Wilson has scored a third of the team’s points on average. That further comes under the microscope when the Aces have made only 62.2% of the field goals from assists, which is the least amongst their peers. Indiana isn’t any better either, as they have 65% of their field goals from assists.
These two teams are matched side by side in almost every aspect. Pace? The Las Vegas Aces have 80.00 possessions per game while the Indiana Fever have 79.96. Defensive rating? Indiana Fever concedes 101 points per 100 possessions while Las Vegas concedes 102. The offense is where the Fever takes the cake as Indiana is the third-best team in the league in this aspect with 105.5 points scored per 100 possessions. The Fever’s more balanced scoring attack could be their secret weapon, giving them a slight edge as ESPN’s predictor gives them a 56.65% chance to come out on top. Even without Caitlin Clark, the Fever are primed to win this game, but A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray might have something to say about that.
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